Angry Indians allege polluted water entering the river from Bangladesh

Fish are dying and floating away due to polluted water.

The lives and livelihoods of thousands of people in West Bengal are in danger due to the polluted water of the Mathabhanga River. For several years, West Bengal has been accusing the Keru Sugar Mills in Chuadanga, Bangladesh, of directly releasing highly polluted water from the factory into this river on the border of the two countries. This is directly affecting the lives and livelihoods of people dependent on the river, including fishermen and farmers in the border areas of West Bengal.

On the other side is Chuadanga, Darshana in Bangladesh; on the other side is the Majhdia Krishnaganj area of ​​Nadia district. The Mathabhanga River enters India from Bangladesh through the village of Bijoypur, which borders this Krishnaganj area. After entering India, the Mathabhanga River merges with the Churni River at Pabakhali in Krishnaganj. This river in the border area is gradually becoming one of the biggest causes of conflict between Bangladesh and India due to pollution alone.

For several years, India has been complaining that the polluted water of Kerur Sugar Mill is being released into the Mathabhanga River without any treatment plant. As a result, aquatic animals including fish are dying in the river at an alarming rate. On the other hand, since the river water is not suitable for use, agricultural work in the vicinity has practically come to a standstill. Local farmers and fishermen complain that they are now being forced to leave their fatherly profession and work as daily wage laborers.

The issue of river pollution has now practically become a political issue in this area. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has complained against Bangladesh in several public meetings on the issue. Cases have been filed in the High Court and even the Supreme Court, but the problem has not been resolved.

Swapan Kumar Bhowmik, Secretary of the Save the Mathabhanga River Committee, said in this regard, we have informed the central government and the state government about this matter in writing. No work has been done, and an application was even made to the Tribunal Court. The court ruled that the Bangladesh government should immediately take action by building a treatment plant. The court even ordered that if the Bangladesh government is unable to do so, the Indian government will arrange for a plant on its own. But nothing has been done about it till date. As a result, the level of pollution in the river is increasing day by day.

A two-member central delegation arrived from Delhi on Friday (January 23) to inspect the river on its own. The team is supposed to give a detailed report to the central government about the current situation of the river. Just before the team's inspection, it was alleged that polluted water was released into the river again on Thursday night. As a result, only rows of dead fish could be seen across the river since Friday morning. Along with a strong stench.

Locals expressed strong anger in front of the central delegation that came to inspect at that time. Local fisherman Ratan Biswas said, "About ten thousand families of fishermen from Krishnaganj to Pairadanga on the Bangladesh border used to rely on this river for their livelihood. Fishermen are losing their jobs and are being forced to go abroad to work. Every year, water is released every 10 to 15 days, but this time it was released late, we thought that this time the water of Darsana in Bangladesh might not be released. Fisherman families like us will be able to live on this river again. But unfortunately, all the fish in the river have died due to the release of polluted water by the Keru & Company sugar mill in Darsana in Bangladesh yesterday. We will be forced to go back to work as daily wage laborers.

In this regard, Krishnaganj Assembly MLA Ashish Kumar Biswas said that he had also raised this issue in the Assembly but no action was taken. Besides, prominent social worker Partha Pratim Swarnakar said, "A team came from Delhi. They have been shown the current situation of the river and they will also go to Delhi and report to the central government in this regard. Now let's see if any action is taken."